Sterilizer



Nov. 16,1926. i 1,601,301

C. R. PELTON ET AL,

STERILIZER Filed May 16, 1923 gmlentof Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

, UNITED STATES CHAUNCEY R. PELTON AND HAROLD W.

TION OF IVIICHIGAN.

A 1,607,301 PAT-ENT OFFICE.

l IIoUeIIToN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, As'- sIGNORs To PELTON & CRANE COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- STERILIZER. y

Application filed May 16, 1923. Serial No. 639,310.

This invention relates to sterilizers and has for its object a sterilizer which. is arranged to furnish relatively hot water quicker than is ordinarilythe case, and which is capable of completely sterilizing all the water that can be drawn through the tap so that none of thewater. can be contaminated.

It is customary in a sterilizer to provide a gauge for indicating the water level. This gauge is a small glass tube on the Outside of the sterilizer and ordinarily the water in this gauge will not reach the boilingy point. Consequently, this water is not thoroughly sterilized under the present practice, and it may return into the reservoir or be drawn through the t-ap thereby frustrating the object of the apparatus which is to provide completely sterile water. It is the object of the present invention to completely eliminate this defect and also to afford a means by which a section of the water can be heated in a very short time. and drawn through the tap.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section of the sterilizer.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective of the accessory which we provide for sterilizers to accomplish our object.

a designates the reservoir provided with a heater b underneath; a tap or cock o leads from inside of the reservoir near the bottom; an elbow fixture d screws into the side` of the reservoir at the top. A gauge tube e connects this-fixture with the valve fixture,-

which screws into the top of the cock. Suitable packing is provided for the tube as will be observed. YvVhen the valve g is open, the water may rise in the gauge tube to the level attained in the reservoir.

It will be quite apparent that the small amount of water isolated in the gauge tube is quite well out off from the heat of the body of the water and consequently will rarely ever reach the boiling point which is necessary to obtain completely sterilized water. Not only must it reachthe boiling point but this must be maintained for comparatively a long period of time in order to completely sterilize the water. This gauge tube is therefore a drawback to the complete success of the sterli'zing. y

We overcome this defect by providing a circulator which traps a small section of the water in the immediate bottom of the reservoir and directs it into the'tap c and up throughl the gauge tube. The device comprises simply an inverted shallow cup 71, having notches z' for the entry of the water. This we call the trap. A tube k leads from the top of this trap and is provided with a conical plug 7' for fitting into the conical seat o of the tap.

The operation needs no detailed explanation. A section of the water at the bottom of the reservoir is cut oif from the colder water above. lThis is in immediate contact with the surface that is heated by the heater; this water quickly reaches a higher temperature and starts rising. It escapes through lthe top port in the trap, thence runs through the tube c into the tap and up through the gauge tube. If the water reaches the boiling point it will rise in the gauge tube in the same way that the water rises in a coffee percolator. It will then pass through the iiXture d back into the top of the reservoir and in this way the entire contents of the reservoir will be caused to boil and isolation of the tube contents from the boiling water will be eliminated.` Under the new arrangement, the tube has boiling water before the larger part of the reservoir.

VThis arrangement has a further advantage -that hot water can be drawn through the tap almost immediately after the heating is started as the tap is in immediate Contact with the trapped-off section at the bottom of kthe reservoir where the water first heats.

Vhat we claim is: Y y

l. In a sterilizer, the combination of a reservoir provided with a bottoom, a controllable outlet therefor, a trap in the. form f of an inverted shallow removable cup a1'- lranged to rest on the-bottom of the reservoir and provided with an outlet at the top, and a tube connecting said last mentioned outlet with the controllable Outlet, and a heater for heating the .water in the trap.

2. In a sterilizer, the combination of reservoir, a heater at the bottom of the reservoir, a tap leading from the reservoir near the bottom and a removable trap in the form of an inverted shallow notched cup ar- -ranged to rest'on the bottom of the reservoir and having a tubular connection with the tap for leading the heated water from the top of the trap directly to the tap. v

y3. In a sterilizer, the combination of a teservor, a gauge tube connected with tho trap at the bottom of the reservoir for circulatting` the hot Water through the gauge tube tio-prevent the isolation o the contents ofthe gauge tube from the heat.

4. In a sterilizer, the combination of a.

reservoir, a, gauge tube connected with the reservoir near the bottom and top thereof, a trap for trapping a section of the ,Water at the bottom of the reservoir and into the .bottom of the gauge tube and out the top of the tube back into the reservoir and means:

for heating; the bottom of the reservoir.

ervoir at, the top, and u trap arranged to divide oilx it section of the Water at the bottom of the reservoir and direct the same into the tap and gauge tube.

6. In av liquid heating. device, the combi? net-ion of e reservoir adapted tov contain Water, a controllable outlet forv the reservoir, a heater for the. reservoir below the bottom thereof, removable means open at its bottom und' (3o-operating With the bottom of the reservoir for trapping a. small section ot the Water adjacent the heater, and means for Climctingl said Water from the top ot the trapping' means to the outlet.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

CHAUNCEY R.' PELTON. HAROLD W. HOUGHTON. 

